Crisis of Faith Averted

Posted by Molly

I'm not just Catholic; I'm also Irish which means guilt is pretty much eating me alive at all times.

Over the past week, I have been really beaten down by it.

You see, I love being Catholic. I am proud of our faith. And when the media or people outside our faith buy into bad press about our church, I always stand up for us. I always point out all the great things about Catholicism and what a difference it has made in my life. I am so grateful that I was raised Catholic. In times of hardship, my faith has been my greatest gift.

And then this past week I read something that really hit me hard because I didn't know how I could defend us against this story. And the fact that I didn't have a defense for my faith made me doubt it. Not Christ. I never doubt him. But the church. It really made me doubt the church. And this made me really sad.

But today the clouds lifted because I finally reached my stress breaking point and instead of turning my back on the church I love, I went to the rectory in hopes that there would be someone available to help me. Our priests are very busy so it is not always possible to talk to someone when you just pop in without a call or an appointment, but I took my chances and God must have been with me because Father Agustin was there. I told him that I had read this story and I just needed to know that our priests here at St Raphael would never turn their backs on someone or treat someone badly just because they believed that person was in sin. I was nervous telling him, because there was really only one answer that was going to appease me, but I shouldn't have been.

Father Agustin answered me with so much love and understanding. In just moments, a whole week of distress washed off me and my faith in our church was renewed.

I tell you this for two reasons. The first is to remind you that it's normal to question our faith during hard times but before you turn away, always go talk to someone. And the second is because I am always amazed by the small ways God shows us He is here. I stop by the rectory quite a bit and most of the time, I just talk to Eileen or one of the other ladies, but today when I really needed a priest to be there, Father Agustin was there. I don't think that is a coincidence. I honestly believe that God made sure when I needed someone, He was there.

God did not let me lose my faith today and I am so grateful.

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